Tonight, police are beating their chests over what's being called one of the biggest marijuana busts ever. Indeed, they snagged over a thousand pounds of product. But the scale of the bust raises deeper questions about the robustness of the marijuana trade in Belize. Where is all this weed coming from, how is it entering the country, where does it go, and who profits from it? This was no small-time, street-corner operation; it involved proper storage at an inconspicuous stash house, and the logistics and capital to acquire and distribute such a large quantity of high-grade product.
Many questions, but, tonight, not enough answers. Here's what we know so far:
This morning at 5:30, a multi-unit Police team descended on an apartment building in Lord's Bank, Ladyvile.
They found 29 large garbage bags stuffed with 1,176 pounds of marijuana with a wholesale street value of 1.6 million dollars along with a 9mm pistol loaded with 12 live rounds:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"A joint operation was carried out by personnel of the Gang Intelligence Investigation and Interdiction Unit, the Anti-Narcotics Unit, and the K-9 Unit of the Belize Police Department at a property located in Lord's Bank Village, Ladyville."
"This operation led to the seizure of a large quantity of marijuana, being 29 large bags, which preliminary indication suggests may weigh well over 1,000 pounds. Also seized at that property was a 9mm pistol, which contained 12 live rounds of 9mm ammunition."
"These drugs were discovered in the room of an apartment building, and police are now seeking a person of interest in this matter."
And while police are seeking a person of interest, they were not willing to discuss the larger under-currents of the drug trade behind the bust:
For now, taking such a large quantity of weed out of the underground supply chain will likely have a ripple effect and could even spawn retaliatory violence - but police weren't ready to address that today. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
We'll let you know when an arrest is made.
